One of Penrith’s oldest businesses is set close later this year, bringing to an end more than two and a half centuries of trading in Penrith. N Arnison and Son, a traditional drapers that has traded for over 280 years, departure from the town centre will mark the end of an era in the towns history.
The business operates from its striking Grade II listed building located on the prominent corner of Devonshire Street, a site that has long dominated the town centre with its ornate Victorian shopfronts, decorative plasterwork, and distinctive arched display windows. The building itself is steeped in history, not only as the long-standing home of Arnison’s but also as the former residence of the grandparents of renowned poet William Wordsworth. The business was first established in another part of Penrith before purchasing the current building in the 1850's.
It is thought to be the oldest still trading businesses in Cumbria, and one of the oldest in the UK.
News of the closure plans was acknowledged at last week’s Annual Town Meeting, where former Town Mayor, Councillor Lawson, expressed his sadness at the announcement. “I had heard the business was to close and was sad to hear such a prominent business with such a long history was to close in the town,” he said.
A statement announcing the closure had been posted on the company’s website, which is currently offline. In it, the business thanked its many loyal customers and confirmed that it would cease trading later this year, bringing its remarkable 280-years of history in Penrith to a close.
The town centre property is now being marketed for sale by the Windermere office of Edwin Thompson, with offers invited for the freehold interest.
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